Waxing Strong In Spirit
Luke 1:80 - Spoken of John the Baptist
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
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Luke 2:40 - Spoken of the Lord Jesus
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
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**Spirit (referring to our spirit): The inner well deep within us that, when tapped into, stirred and let loose, gushes to the surface revealing who and what we are as a person.**
Reading through the Gospels I’ve been drawn to the importance of our spirit. Usually, when reading about John and Jesus waxing strong in spirit, a broad consensus seems to favor the idea that the Holy Spirit is being referred to. I’m not convinced.
Granted, they were both uniquely filled with the Holy Spirit but … I don’t think that’s what’s being referenced. I rather lean in the direction that it’s talking about a principle element deep within them that enabled them to rise to the occasion of their purpose when necessary.
When thinking about this, I noticed an interesting commonality between John the Baptist and Jesus that I hadn’t recognized before. It’s in relation to Vipers and to Herod.
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**Consider the Viper motif used by John the Baptist and Jesus. See if you sense any “spirit” coming through what they say.
John the Baptist
Matthew 3:7 — But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Luke 3:7 — Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
*Jesus
Matthew 12
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matthew 23
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
“Generation of vipers, the damnation of Hell.” These are strong words that only those “strong in spirit” would dare to say. Makes me ask myself if I am that strong (bold, brave) in spirit? I trow not sure.
Next …
**Consider the Herod motif used by John the Baptist and Jesus. See if you sense any “spirit” coming through what they say..
*John the Baptist
Mark 6
16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
*Jesus
Luke 13
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
To take on Herod, as both John and Jesus did, is an amazing display of the type spirit that emboldened them. Imagine the amount of inner strength and fortitude necessary to say and do as they did with such absolute authority? That’s what I’m referring to as I think of what it means to be …
Waxing Strong In Spirit.
And … once again it makes me ask myself if I am that strong (bold, brave) in spirit? I trow not sure.
And then … as I think toward the future that might be awaiting us as believers, I have a sneaky suspicion we’re going to be called upon, forced, to tap into a strength of spirit like never before.
Am I ready? Are you ready?
As we ponder that, I want us to be encouraged ——
There’s still time for the Scriptures to burrow deeply into the warp-and-woof of who and what we are in Christ … if we’ll let it. All we have to do is read it purposefully and prayerfully each day.
Summary thought:
It’s astonishingly apparent that John and Jesus weren’t milk-toast sissies. They realized eternity was at stake and that there are times when truth needs to be powerfully outspoken ... even unto death if necessary.
John was beheaded and Jesus was crucified.
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I’ll close with this passage of Scripture. It may very well be a good place to start personally and as a fellowship.
I Thessalonians 5
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.